Power control



March 5, 1929. E. A. CLARK 1,704,426

POWER CONTROL Filed July 23, 1927 L IL I o 9 n O 15' 5 1 v IIIIIILIIII 9 fnvenl o r, Ewe n A. azark;

Patented Mar. 5, .1929.

UNITED STATES PATIENT OFFICE.

awaits. max, on aos'ron, nessecnusma POWER CONTROL.

- Application filed July 23,

brake'mechanism or other "control mecha-' nism, or with two .thereof each connected separately with one of the control mechanisms, as the clutch edal and the brake mechanism. I also a apt the device, when connected with the brake mechanism, to control the accelerator arm, or when connected with the clutch lever to control this arm.

byabox5 In the drawings forming part of this specification, Fig. 1 is a side sectional view of parts of an automobile showing an embodiment'of my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of another form of the invention. Fig. .3 is a sectional elevation of'another form of the invention. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of still another modification thereof. i

The slide or foot piece 1 is preferably sunk in the floor of the car between the drivers seat and the dashboard, and preferably in the level portion of the floor. This foot piece slides forward and back 11 onsuitable ways 2, beingillustrated with rol ers or wheels 3 for making the movements easier; the rails 4 being provided for kee ing it from rising out from its place. 0 keep the air from rising through the space about the foot piece, it isencased beneath w 'olly closing the aperture through the floor needed for the reciprocation of the foot piece.

The first function of the foot piece is the control of the accelerator arm 6 which is normally urged to its low limit of closure by a tension spring 7. This spring can not wholly cut out the charge from the engine, but brings the arm to a point at which the charge admitted will keep the engine from stalling.

From the foot piece 1 a rod 9 asses out through the forward end of the x 5,

1921. Serial n. 101,973. and is pivoted at its outer end to a bar 10 whose free end enters a slot 11 in the acceler-- ator arm 6 and is notched for engagin the latter.- Thus, by sliding the foot piece ba-ck and forth, the accelerator arm is correspond ingly adjusted, and the engine made to run faster or slower as desired. A tension spring 12 attached to a la rising from the bar 10 serves bothto hol the notch 18 in its engagement with the accelerator arm, and likewise to yieldingly hold the foot piece in a forward position at which the bar 15 holding the accelerator arm in its position of low charge-delive Y The foot piece 1 is connected with the brake pedal 13, or with the clutch pedal or other power lever, or there may be a like foot iece for. each or any two in the same car; at I prefer'to unite it to the" brake pedal. The connection'consists of a tubular section I 14 and arod 15 slidable within the tube;

the length of the latter being such that when the shoulder 16 reaches the end of the tube 14, the foot piece is holding the accelerator at its oint of minimum delivery. Now, when the driver presses the foot ing a sup wheel an thereby raises the'notc 18 out of its engagement with the accelerator arm,

iece far- .ther'forward in order to put on t e brakes,

a shoulder 17 of the bar 10, which is touch rting wheel 19, rides in on this and so permits the foot piece to advance far enough to swing the brake lever 13 to its full braking position.

For starting the car again, the foot piece is drawn backward, releasing the brakes, and also re-en'gaging the accelerator arm 6, and permitting the desired amount of charge to be delivered to the en ine.

In the operation of this arrangement the driver rests his foot upon the foot piece, and

his heel back against the heel piece 20 to enable him to press it rearward. For enabling him to better exert :a brake-applyin pressure to the foot piece, it is provided wit a shoulder 21 desi ed to be directly in front ii heel, whereby he can.

of the breast of is ur e the foot iece forward b the e a me nt of his h tiel with the shliulder g(BI prefer to have the latter hinged in the foot piece at 22 and normally held u ward by a spring1 23, so that when the river ste a into t e car and his foot comes upon t e shoulder 21, it will yield thereto.

of leg.

celerator To enclose the space in front of and behind the foot piece 1, I hinge the flaps 25 and 26 thereto; the front flap 25 sliding up the inclined portion 27 of the floor, and the rear flap sliding in beneath the seat.

The modification of the invention shown in Fig. 2 has a foot piece 30 pivoted at 31 to swing laterally, and is connected by an arm 32 with the rod 9 and bar 10. The driver merely swings his foot laterally for the control of the accelerator arm, but urges it forward for the application of the brakes.

It is evident that the sliding carriage or foot piece can be disconnected from the acarm, and so control alone the power lever connected therewith; likewise, the same car may be provided with a plurality thereof, each connected with one of thepower levers.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 3, the foot piece 36 is supported by foot piece 36 is for the purpose of shifting' the same to suit people of different lengths v In this modification, there are no anti-friction rolls, but good lubrication is depended upon for the free movement of the slide 39 in the ways 41.

In the construction shown in Fig. 4, the brake pedal is omitted, and the carriage 45 is connected with the brake rod by means of a lever 46 pivot-ally supported by means of a rocking arm 49, so that as the carriage is moved forward, the braking mechanism is operated.

\Vhat I claim as my invention is t 1. The combination with a power control g i wherein the foot piece is provided with an' means of an automobile and the like, of a device slidable in a straight line longitudinally along the floor of the automobile, and connected with said means for the operation of the latter by the sliding movements of floor of the automobile, and connection between the same and the accelerator of the engine.

3. The combination with a power control lever, of an automobile and the like, of a foot piece slidable along the floor of the automobile and connected with both the said lever and the accelerator arm of the engine.

at. The combination with a" power control lever of an automobile and the like,of a foot piece slidable in the floor of the automobile connected with both said lever and the accelerator, said connection permitting the accelerator to be nearly shut off before the said lever is operated.

. 5. The combination with a power control lover of an automobile and the like, of a foot piece slidablcalong the floor of the automobile toward and from the dash board, and connections between said foot piece and said lever and with the acceleratorarm of the piece toward the dash board adjust-stile said arm to its minimum limit, and is then disen gaged therefrom to permit further move; ment to operatev the said lever; 1

6. The combination with a pqw veoimdl lever of an automobile and the like, "at

foot piece slidable along the floor-0r the" automobile toward and from thefdashfboarcl, connection between said foot piece and the accelerator arm of the-engii'ie comprisinga plvoted bar reieasably engaging the said arm, and connection between said footpiece and said lever comprising a tubular vportion and a rod slidablein said tubular portion to y permit the foot piece to control andrelease said arm before further forward movement of said foot piece causes said rod andtube to set the said lever. i

7. A structure as setforth' in'elaim 5 wherein. the foot piece is provided with a heel enclosure.

8. A structure as set forth' in claim 5,"

enclosing box having ways, and the foot piece'has antifriction rolls engaging said i wavs.

10.1; structure as set forth in claim 5, wherein the foot piece 1s provided with an enclosing-bun set into the tloor of the auto-' mobile, and the connection with the accelerator arm includes a rod attached at one end to said foot piece and passes outward through an end of said box.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing invention, I have hereunto set my hand this 22nd day of July, 1927.

EV' EN A. CLARK. 

